Microprocessor Controlled Ambulatory Medical Apparatus with Hand Held Communication Device

1. A medical system, comprising: a) an ambulatory medical device (MD) comprising MD electronic control circuitry that further comprises at least one MD telemetry system and at least one MD processor that controls, at least in part, operation of the MD telemetry system and operation of the MD, wherein the MD is configured to provide a treatment to a body of a patient or to monitor a selected state of the body; and b) a communication device (CD) comprising CD electronic control circuitry that further comprises at least one CD telemetry system and at least one CD processor that controls, at least in part, operation of the CD telemetry system and operation of the communication device, wherein the CD telemetry system sends messages to or receives messages from the MD telemetry system, wherein the at least one MD processor that controls, at least in part, the operation of the MD telemetry system and the operation of the MD comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) configured to monitor an electrical activity of a first component or module; wherein the MD telemetry system comprises the ASIC configured to monitor the electrical activity of the first component or module; and wherein a remaining portion of the MD telemetry system is external to the ASIC and is free of any digital modules.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the CD telemetry system is incorporated into the CD processor and a second portion of the CD telemetry system is external to the CD processor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein (1) the MD electronic control circuitry comprises at least one external MD functional module, other than the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system, that is external to the MD processor, (2) the CD electronic control circuitry comprises at least one external CD functional module, other than the second portion of the CD telemetry system, that is external to the CD processor, (3) the MD processor comprises an internal MD CPU and at least one other internal MD functional module, or (4) the CD processor comprises an internal CD CPU and at least one other internal CD functional module.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the MD electronic control circuitry comprises at least one external MD functional module, other than the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system, that is external to the MD processor; and wherein the CD electronic control circuitry comprises at least one external CD functional module, other than the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system, that is external to the CD processor.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the MD processor comprises an MD central processing unit and at least one other MD functional module; and wherein the CD processor comprises a CD central processing unit and at least one other CD functional module.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MD comprises at least one of (1) an implantable infusion pump for selectively dispensing a selected drug, (2) an implantable infusion pump for selectively dispensing insulin, (3) an implantable sensor for sensing a selected state of the body, (4) an implantable sensor for sensing glucose level, and (5) an implantable electrode for selectively stimulating a portion of the body of the patient.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first component or module is a firing circuit for the infusion pump; and wherein the electrical activity being monitored is a voltage.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the voltage is monitored during a charging cycle.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the voltage is also monitored after firing the infusion pump.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first component or module is the sensor; and wherein the electrical activity being monitored is a current being drawn by the sensor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical activity being monitored is a voltage on the first component or module.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical activity being monitored is a current used by the first component or module.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical activity being monitored is a power consumed by the first component or module.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical activity being monitored is a shape of a waveform.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitored electrical activity is compared to at least one of a predefined value, range of values, and waveform.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the monitored electrical activity is compared to the at least one of a predefined value, range of values, and waveform to ensure that the first component or module is operating under acceptable conditions.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitored electrical activity is compared to the at least one of a predefined value, range of values, and waveform to modify the operation of the first component or module.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first component or module is located within the ASIC.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first component or module is located external to the ASIC.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MD processor includes an oscillator for providing one or more clock signals to the ASIC.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MD includes at least two MD processors each comprising an ASIC.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the MD further comprises at least one oscillator for providing one or more clock signals to the at least two MD processors each comprising an ASIC.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein each of the at least two MD processors includes at least one oscillator for providing one or more clock signals to each of the respective MD processors.

24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ASIC of the MD telemetry system comprises at least one of a mixer circuit and a low-pass filter circuit.

25. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system external to the ASIC comprises at least one of a radio frequency tuning circuit and a receiver amplifier.

26. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system external to the ASIC comprises at least one of an antenna and a radio frequency receiver arranged external to the application specific integrated circuit.

27. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ASIC comprises a radio frequency modulator.

28. The system of claim 1 , the MD telemetry system configured to transmit data using Quadrature Fast Acquisition Spread Spectrum Technology (QFAST®).

29. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MD telemetry system comprises one or more analog modules; wherein at least one of the one or more analog modules is external to the ASIC; and wherein the at least one of the one or more analog modules located external to the ASIC is substantially isolated from digital noise generated by the ASIC.

30. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MD is configured to be implantable in the body of the patient.

31. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MD includes at most one MD processor; wherein the at most one MD processor is the ASIC of the MD telemetry system; and wherein the ASIC of the MD telemetry system is configured to monitor the electrical activity of the first component or module.

32. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system that is external to the ASIC comprises circuitry configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode; wherein, in a case where the circuitry is in the first mode, the circuitry is configured to allow data from the CD to be receivable by the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system; and wherein, in a case where the circuitry is in the second mode, the circuitry is configured to allow data to be transmittable by the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system to the CD.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein, in a case where the circuitry is in the first mode, the circuitry is configured to not allow data to be transmittable by the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system to the CD; and wherein, in a case where the circuitry is in the second mode, the circuitry is configured to not allow data from the CD to be receivable by the remaining portion of the MD telemetry system.